Journal box



. g- 1932. R. J. BRlTTAlN, JR 1,869,931

JOURNAL BOX Filed June 21, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 2' INVENTOQ:

HIS ATTo/aA/EY.

Aug. 2, 19 32- R. J. 'BRlTTAlN, JR 7 7 1,869,931

' JOURNAL BOX Filed June 21,1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Figs) 6 Hi5 ATTo/QNEKPatented Aug. 2, 1 932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RICHARD J. BRITTAIN,JR., BLOOMIEIELD, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION, OFDETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE JOURNAL BOX Applicationfiled June 21,

This invention relates to journal boxes and comprises all the featuresof novelty herein disc osed, by way-of example, in connection with a caraxle box having provision for lateral thrust and lubrication.

An object of the invention isto provide an improved apparatus forresistin the end thrust and torque of an axle and ad usting the play ofthe axle in a journal box. Another object is to provide a de .ce of thischaracter which is strong and dependable and applicable generally toexisting journal boxes.

To these ends and also to improve generally upon devices of thecharacter indicated, the invention consists in the various mattershereinafter described and claimed.

The invention, in its broader aspects, is not necessarily limited to thespecific construction selected for mere illustrative purposes in theaccompanying drawings in which Figure l is a central vertical section ofa journal box.

Figure 2. is an end elevation partly in section.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the box in position between car pedestals.

Figure 4 1s a perspective view of an endcap.

' Figure 5 is a perspective view of a thrust block and attached stud. 13

Figures 6 and 7 are perspective views of a retaining ring.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of a wear plate.

Figure 9 is a central vertical section of a modified journal box.

The numeral 2 indicates a car axle for support by the usual flanged -:arwheels (not shown). Outside each-wheel, the axle has a reduced portion 4making a close joint with grease grooves 6 in a flange of an axle box 8.An oil slinging rib 7 0n the axle tends to prevent the lubricant fromworkingtowardsthe portion 4 of the axle. The axle is further reduced asat 10 to fit a sleeve or race rings12 supporting antifriction bearings,herein shown as spiral rollers 14 held between end rings 16. The rollersrun on the inner sur- 1927. Serial No. 200,336.

ted-at 24 above the axle, and at 26 below the axle, to allow the passageof lubricant through the bearings to the cavity 28 in the box. The ribor flange 22 also takes the induced end thrust of the bearings and theslots 24 and 26 also facilitate removal of the race ring 18 from thebox. The inner sleeve 12 is. shrunk 0n the axle and held againstendwisemovement by a split ring 30 snapped into a groove 32 on the axle. Theouter sleeve 18 is held against the rib 22 by a retaining ring 34 havinga flange with grease grooves 36 holding thick grease to make a sealedjoint with the bore 20. The fiangeis deep enough to also take theinduced end thrust of the bearings. The retaining. ring encloses the endof the axle and the bearings. v

The ring 34 has an arcuate slot 37 with end lugs or faces 38 engaged bya lug 40 projecting inwardly from an end cap 42 fastened by bolts andnuts 44 to the end of the axle box. This holds the ring 34 againstrotation. The end cap has an arcuate rib 46 fitting in a cylindricalbore 48 in the axle box, this bore being slightly larger in diameterthan the bore 20. Arcuate ribs 49 on the ring 34 fit the bore 48 andcooperate with the flange having the grooves 36 in supporting the ring.The ring has an extension with arcuate corners 51 entering within thearcuate rib 46. The rib 46 is interrupted at the bottom and the capcored out as at to provide a slot leading from an oil filling opening 52to an oil reservoir 54 in an enlargement 56 of the axle box. A gasket 58between the axle box and the end cap makes a tight joint. The retainingring 34 has a depending ex tension 60 with a vertical slot 61 for a wick62 leading upwardly through the extension from the lubricant receptacle54. The wick fits in and closes the slot and is fastened to theextension by a cotter pin 64. The ring 34 has a polygonal or angularopening 66 in its end portion, the opening preferably being square toreceivea corresponding square section on a thrust block 68 preferably ofbronze, the square section 0 the block closely fitting the opening 66andbeing externally recessed on all sides as at 70 for lightness. Theretaining ring surrounds the thrust block and gives it external supportagainst the peening action caused by the thrusts and torque of the axleand so maintains the shape of the thrust block. Thethrust block has agenerally arcuate flat thrust face '72 normally spaced slightly from aflat finished face 7 4 on the end of the axle. The axle has a groovebounded by an oil slinging rib 76 delivering excess oil centrifugally toan annular recess 78 in the retaining ring, the oil draining to thelowest point of the recess and passing through a slot 80 to the bearingsthrough which it circulates before draining back to the reservoir 54.The axle box is cored outas at 82 to form oil drain passages leadingat'a slight inclination from the cavity 28 to the oil reservoir 54.

The wick 62 extends upwardly into a rectangular notch 84 in the thrustblock and the intermittent endwise movement of the axle presses itflushwith the thrust face and exdisturbin supporte tioally .with the ax'pressions 126.

tracts oil which is distributed over the engaging thrust faces. Thethrust block 68 is internally square at 86, being cast around the squaresections 88 of a threaded stud 90. A

.cast lip 92 on the block extends between the sections 88 and conformsto the intervening round section of the stud. Shims 94 between thethrust block and the end cap adjust the spacing of the thrust faces 72and 74 and nuts 96 clamp the parts together. The stud cannot work loosefrom the thrust block to loosen the nuts. By securing the wickto theretaining ring rather than to an extension of the thrust block thethrust block can be made smaller, the thrust elements can be adjustedwithout the wick and the wick is better The axle box is intended to fitbetween the usual pedestalsof a car truck. It is fiat on the bottom asat 100 and has flat side faces 102 terminating in upper and lowershoulders or ledges 104. A U-shaped wear late 106 on each side of thebox has its ase portion slotted as at 108 to .iit the shoulders orledges 104. The shoulders support the wear plate and prevent it fromdrop ing out. Legs 110, bent outwardly from the ase ortion, are securedb rivets 112 to uprig t flanges 114 at the sides of the box. The legs110 act as wear lates and normally have a clearance with t e pedestals115. The clearance is sufjournal box to move vere to suit uneven trackconditions without cramping the roller bearficient to permit the ing.The box has equalizer slots or grooves 116 between pairs of cross ribs118 and 120 on the top 0 the box. The grooves are interrupted by roundedlu s 122 forming seats for encgaging correspon ing slots on the under sie of any suitable equalizer bars. Centrally the box us 1:. lug or seat124 between de- The play between the axle and the thrust "a correspondngopening in a casincg1 comprisable block can be tested or measured easilyby removing the. nuts 96 and pushing the thrust block inwardly by itsstud which serves as a handle. Then, on removal of the end cap alone,the requisite number of washers 94 can be inserted to adjust the play tothe desired amount. Upon removal of the thrust block, shims and end capas a unit for inspection purposes, the absorbent wick and retaining ringneed oil seal at 36 is maintained. The wick lifts the oil by capillaryaction to the thrust faces, the excess oil being slung off from thegroove 7 6 into the retaining ring which delivers it to the bearings.The retaining ring encloses the end of the axle and partitions thebearings from the reservoir. The oil then works through the bearingsinto the cavity 28 from which point it passes through the drain passages82 to the reservoir, thus having a circulation even when the oil is lowin the reservoir. The stud 90 is preferably made of stronger materialthan the thrust not be disturbed and the adapted for railway turntables,is disclosed.

A hub 204 of a supporting wheel is sleeved on the central portion of anaxle 208 having a reduced portion 210 at each end on which an inner racering 212 is pressed. Bearings 214 having end rings 216 run on a sleeveor race ring 218 fitting in a bore 220 andabutting an annular flange 222on a box or housing 224. For self-alignment, the box or housing has aspherical outer face 225 fitting ing a main section 226 and a deta ercap section 228 the main section suitable provision for attaching itframe of a turn table (not shown). 229 on the cap section enters a slotin the housin to allow lateral swing without rotation. 11 the other sideof the wheel, a similar mounting of the other end of the axle inself-aligning bearings of a similar frame owhavingto the would referablyexist. A ring or cap 234 Apin' 220. A flange 240 of the ring is securedto a mating flan 242 on the box or housing by bolts 244 w icharethreaded in the flange 242 and welded to it, nuts 246 being threadedonthe bolts. The ring has an internal square recess 266 supporting thecorrespondin external sides of a thrust block 268 while s ims or washers270 rest against the bottom of the recess and support the end face ofthe thrust block. A stu 272 hasa. portion threaded in the thrust blockand brazed to it asv at 274,

the outer end of the stud being threaded for clamping nuts 276. Thus thethrust block has complete support against the peening action of theaxle. Lubricant is occasionally an axle box, an axle journalled in thebox, an

end cap removably fixed tothe end of the box, a ring fitting in the box,the ring being separate from the end cap and having an opening extendingthrough it, a thrust block fitting in the opening, and a clamping studrigidly secured to the thrust block and extending through the end capwhereby the thrust block can be moved inwardly from outside the end capto measure the play between the axle and the thrust block; substantiallyas described.

2. In a device of an axle box, an axle journalled in the box, an end capremovably fixed to the end of the the character described,

. box, a ring fitting in the box, the ring being separate from the capand having an opening extending through it, a thrust block sup ported inthe opening of the ring, means for securing the thrust block to the endcap and preventing rotation of the block by the axle,

the outer end of the ring and the thrust block being exposed uponremoval of the end cap; substantially as described;

3. In a device of the character described, an axle box, an axlejournalled in the box, an end cap removably fixed to the end of the box,a ring fitting in the box, the ring being separate from the cap andhaving an opening extending through it, a thrust block held againstrotation in the opening of the ring; and spacing plates between thethrust block and the end cap and accessible from the end of the box whenthe cap is removed; substantially as described. 1 4. In a device of thecharacter described, an axle box having a reservoir, an axle journalledin the axle box, a ring fitting in the axle box and having an opening, athrust block held against rotation in the opening and presenting athrust face to the axle, the

axle box and having an opening, a thrust block held against rotation inthe opening and presenting a thrust face to the axle, a wick extendingfrom the reservoir to the thrust block, and the ring having its lowerportion provided with an enlargement with an openwalls of the openingsurrounding all sides'of the wick and supporting the middle portionthereof against bending in any direction; substantially as described.

6. In a device of the character described, an axle box, an axlejournalled in the box', an end cap fixed to the end of the box, a thrustblock held against rotation in the box and presenting a thrust face tothe axle, a clamping stud extending through the end cap, the inner endof said stud having a headed portion entering an opening in the thrust 7block, and means for securing the headed portion against both rotary andlongitudinal movement with respect to the thrust block to provide forpositive inward movement of the block by the stud; substantially asdescribed.

7. In a device of the character described, an axle box, an axlejournalled in the axle box, a retaining ring fitting in the axle box andhaving an opening therethrough, a thrust block supported in the openingof the retaining ring, the thrust block opposing the end of the axle andremovable outwardly away from c the axle through the opening, an end capsep-' arate from the retaining ring and secured at and the block havinginterfitting parts.

whereby the projecting portion of the stud outside the end cap can beutilized as a handle to move the thrust block agamst the axle to testthe play therebetween; substantially serted therein and an abutment forthe race ring, an axle j ournalled in the box, an end cap secured to theend of the box, a ring fitting in the box and interposed between thebearing race ring and the end cap to hold the race ring against itsabutment, the ring and the end cap having interlocking parts to preventrelative rotation while roviding for axial separation and a thrust lockcarried in an opening of the ring and movable outwardly through theopening while the ring remains in the box; substantially as described.

10. In a device of the character described,

locking parts to prevent relative rotation" while providing for axialseparation, the ring 65 ing through which the wick extends, the sidealso having an opening extending through it,

athrust block supported in the opening and removable outwardlytherethrough, and means between the thrust block an the end cap to fixthe distance of'the thrust block from the axle; substantially asdescribed.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

RICHARD J BRITTAIN, JR.

